Piccadilly Gardens crash: Four people injured after head-on collision involving tram and bus

A person had to be cut free and rescued from a bus following a head-on crash between a tram and a Stagecoach bus in Piccadilly Gardens.

Police, paramedics, firefighters and an air ambulance all rushed to the scene at around 2.13pm this afternoon (Friday). Four people are being treated after the crash that has brought the city centre to a standstill, including one with suspected serious injuries, according to North West Ambulance Service.

Mosley Street, a main thoroughfare through town connecting St Peter's Square to Piccadilly Gardens, is now closed in both directions. The bus and tram crashed collided head-on outside the Betfred and Primark at the top of Mosley Street in the city centre.

READ MORE: Piccadilly Gardens crash LIVE: Tram and bus involved in head-on collision as air ambulance lands

Images and footage of Piccadilly Gardens shows the tram and bus have been taped off to the general public as the recovery continues. A statement from North West Ambulance Service said: "We’re responding to an RTC at Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, following a 999 call at 2.13pm.

"Three ambulance crews, a consultant paramedic, a senior paramedic, a critical care team in an air ambulance and the Hazardous Area Response Team have all attended. Four patients are being treated, one with suspected serious injuries.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) added: “At just after 2.40pm on Friday (October 18) three fire engines from Withington, Manchester Central and Wythenshawe fire stations plus the technical response unit from Leigh fire station attended a crash involving a bus and a tram on Mosley Street, Manchester.

“Firefighters, working alongside colleagues from Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service and Metrolink, are using specialist cutting equipment to rescue one casualty from the bus. Crews were in attendance for around one and a half hours.”

One eyewitness told the Manchester Evening News: “There were loads of sirens and then we heard the helicopter. It’s looks bad - like a head on crash between the bus and the tram. Firefighters look like they are cutting the front off the bus.”

Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for comment.